Not Enough "Mishagaim" California moves closer to decriminalizing psychedelic drugs

 

California legalized medical marijuana 25 years ago when voters approved an initiative that eventually helped to overturn cannabis prohibition in all but three states today.

The legalization movement that brought upmarket marijuana shops to Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco is now focused on psychedelic drugs. A voter initiative to decriminalize magic mushrooms was recently approved for signature-gathering, and a legislative proposal is set to be considered next year.

Some in the decriminalization movement say the legalization of psychedelic drugs is inevitable, pointing to Oregon, where voters approved magic mushroom decriminalization last year, and Denver and Oakland, California, which had passed similar laws in 2019.

"I believe it is possible that eventually, a critical mass or even a majority of states will legalize or decriminalize some or all of these psychedelics," said Ismail L. Ali, acting director of policy and advocacy at Santa Cruz-based Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, in an email.

Last Afghani Jew Gives Wife Get Erev Yom Kippur

 

Zablon Simintov, last Jew in Afghanistan, signs a get to his wife, Sept. 15, 2021.

Zablon Simintov, 62, famous for being the last living Jew in Afghanistan lived up to his commitment to his rescuer, Israeli businessman Moti Kahana, and on the eve of Yom Kippur, in New York City, signed a get to his wife after many years of refusal. The signing was signed over Zoom in the presence of two rabbis and Kahana.

Kahana tweeted afterward: “I did something good for the new year, I helped a woman get a get. Not sure it’s kosher. There will surely be an argument, after all, we are Jews. But we live in the twenty-first century and Zoom exists. So may we all have a happy new year and an easy fast.”

Simintov was born into an Orthodox Jewish family in the city of Herat in 1959 and later moved to Kabul. The Taliban harassed him, forcing him to move into the city’s only synagogue. The owner of a carpet warehouse, he was detained, jailed, and abused by Taliban members, and was forced to pay protection money.

Simintov’s hostile relationship with the other last Jew in Kabul, Ishaq Levin, became the subject of a play in the UK. The two lived in opposite ends of the synagogue and the feud between them was so heated that both men snitched on each other to the Taliban which ended up jailing them for the charges they brought against each other. The Taliban also confiscated their only Torah.

Levin died in 2005 at age 80, leaving the entire synagogue to his rival who was encouraged, now that the city was under American rule, to make aliyah. But Simintov refused to make the move to Israel because he didn’t want to be forced to give a get to his wife—who had left him with their only daughter.

After the US had withdrawn its army from Afghanistan in August and the Taliban took control over Kabul, Simentov said he felt safe and preferred to stay. But shortly thereafter, things in Kabul began to deteriorate, and Moti Kahana, the owner of a logistics and security company, warned the last Jew that “ISIS will either kidnap you and try to sell you or they will chop your head off.”

Simintov finally consented to leave with Kahana’s help and funds from New York-based Rabbi Moshe Margaretten. But both his rescuers conditioned their support on his agreeing to give his wife who lives in Israel a get. After he had given his word, Simintov was taken to a neighboring country and then flown to NYC.

Israeli singer Sarit Hadad comes out as gay

 

Sarit Hadad, one of the most popular singers in Israel, came out as a lesbian on Sunday, revealing her relationship with her partner of the past few years, Tamar Yahalomi, in a new music video, A Love Like Ours.

Hadad, 43, the mother of two young daughters, is considered a trailblazer, having made Mizrahi-style music mainstream in Israel. An icon of the genre, she has won the title of "Singer of the Year" four times and was crowned "Singer of the Decade" for the first decade of the 21st century.

Yahalomi is an Israeli singer-songwriter with many hits to her credit. She was discovered in 2011 in A Star is Born, the Israeli version of American Idol.

The hunt concludes: 'The terrorists gave up without a fight'

 

During the night, two weeks after the escape of the six terrorists from Gilboa Prison, the last two prisoners still on the run were apprehended in Jenin without resistance.

Nissim Mash'al and Anat Davidov of Radio 103FM spoke Sunday morning with IDF Spokesman Brigadier General Ran Kochav, who spoke about the moments of capture, which took place last night at 1 am.

He said IDF forces entered the Jenin refugee camp and the city, isolated and encircled the area until a "final indication" was obtained and the terrorists were captured in the east of the city.

He admitted that they expected resistance, because they are "terrorists, we do not call them prisoners but terrorists, and they are usually armed and fighting. We prepared for them to be armed and willing to fight, both with armed forces, with intelligence capabilities and also with the exchange of fire and deterrence we carried out as soon as we knew where they were. So they eventually decided to surrender without fire, and were taken in for questioning."

The IDF spokesman noted that the terrorists were "supported by Islamic Jihad" and that there was a possible response to their capture, but clarified: "We are prepared for the response of the enemy, of Islamic Jihad and Hamas in Gaza with air defense, we we have among the most advanced systems in the world. We are prepared with the defense divisions, we have increased ongoing security, in some places many fighters will remain for the holiday and we are definitely preparing for the possibility of a response."

He added that "every balloon is responded to by a fighter jet bombing. Every terror attack will definitely have an overwhelming response. We will not accept either a small attack or a rocket. All of them and those similar to them need to know that we will pursue each and every terrorist in any place to thwart him, catch him and, if needed, kill him."

Despite the success of the operation, Kochav stressed: "We are not celebrating. We are interrogating, learning, getting better. We have additional tasks, and from the first lessons that are already emerging it seems that what brought about the execution [of this task] is our intelligence capability."

Israeli police cancel investigations for 150 travelers from Uman

 

Israeli police have cancelled three-quarters of the investigations into Israelis who had been suspected of falsifying COVID tests in order to return home from Uman after the Rosh Hashanah holiday this month, Galei Tzahal reported Sunday afternoon.

According to the report, authorities have closed the investigations of 150 of the 200 travelers who returned from Ukraine after Rosh Hashanah, retracting requests that they report for questioning.

The travelers, who had spent the holiday at the tomb of Rebbe Nachman, founder of the Breslov Hasidic movement, had been suspected of forging the negative COVID tests needed to return home, after authorities found them to have tested positive upon their return. In addition, Israeli police had claimed that the suspects had tested positive in the Ukraine prior to departure.

Now, however, it appears that the 150 travelers in question in fact tested negative both upon their arrival to Israel and in the Ukraine prior to departure.

Following the return of the roughly 17,000 Israelis who traveled to Uman this Rosh Hashanah, data collected by Israel’s Health Ministry found that over 9% of the returnees tested positive for COVID upon their arrival in Israel.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett castigated the travelers suspected of falsifying COVID tests, and ordered police to immediately open investigations of those under suspicion.

“The Israeli government takes a very serious view of patients who fraudulently enter Israel by falsifying documents and deliberately spread disease, which constitutes an irresponsible act of harming public peace,” Bennett said in a statement.

In response to the Galei Tzahal report Sunday, MK Bezalel Smotrich (Religious Zionist Party) excoriated Bennett and Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz for pushing for a rapid investigation of travelers returning from Uman.

“I’m willing to bet that we won’t be hearing any apologies from any of the populist politicians, from Bennett to Horowitz, who rushed to join in the border-line anti-Semitic attack on those returning from Uman in order to distract from their colossal failures in handling the coronavirus pandemic; failures which cost more than a thousand lives since the establishment of this government – along with crowding at hospitals. You should be ashamed of yourselves.”

Rare archeological artifact attests to fraud during First Temple period

 

An incredibly rare weight was discovered during excavations in Jerusalem this week that experts believe were used by cheating traders in Jerusalem's markets in the period leading up to the destruction of the First Temple,  approximately 2,700 years ago.

The weight – discovered in the City of David near the foundations of the Western Wall weighs three times the weight indicated on it, which prompted scholars to conclude that it was used by traders to deceive their buyers.

It is an incredibly rare find and only the second such discovery made in Israel.

"The Bible indicates that the problem of weight deception is nothing new," the researchers said. "Merchants cheated and held separate heavy and light weight systems and used them when buying or selling."

It is mentioned in the book of Leviticus and Deuteronomy, they explained, "Do not have two differing weights in your bag – one heavy, one light. [Rather,] you must have accurate and honest weights and measures, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. For the Lord your God detests anyone who does these things, anyone who deals dishonestly."

Egypt opens restored tomb of pharoah who ruled 4,500 years ago

 

Egypt on Tuesday showcased an ancient tomb structure belonging to the cemetery complex of King Djoser, a pharaoh who lived more than 4,500 years ago, following extensive restorations of the site.

The structure − known as the Southern Tomb − is largely underground and includes a labyrinth of corridors, decorated with hieroglyphic carvings and tiles. A central funeral shaft houses a massive granite-clad sarcophagus from Egypt's Third Dynasty.

However, the pharaoh was not actually buried there but in the famed Step Pyramid nearby. The two structures make up part of the Saqqara complex near Cairo − one of the country's richest archeological sites. The Step Pyramid is the oldest known pyramid and one of the first examples of monumental architecture from the ancient world, according to UNESCO. It is believed to have been the inspiration for the Pyramids at Giza.

Egypt's Ministry of Antiquities and Tourism said the opening this week of the tomb structure marked the completion of restoration work that started in 2006 and included reinforcing of the underground corridors, refurbishing the carvings and the tiled walls, and installing lighting. As of Tuesday, the tomb opened to the public.

In addition to the Southern Tomb, the Saqqara plateau hosts at least 11 pyramids, including the Step Pyramid, as well as hundreds of tombs of ancient officials and other sites that range from the 1st Dynasty (2920 BCE-2770 BCE) to the Coptic period (395-642).

The Saqqara site is part of the necropolis of Egypt's ancient capital of Memphis that includes the famed Giza Pyramids, as well as smaller pyramids at Abu Sir, Dahshur and Abu Ruwaysh. The ruins of Memphis were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1970s.

Egypt has publicized a string of recent archaeological finds over the past year in an effort to revive its key tourism sector, which was badly hit by the turmoil that followed the 2011 uprising. The sector was also dealt a further blow by the global coronavirus pandemic.

Man with hammer goes on rampage in Teaneck asking 'Are you Jewish?' No he Wasn't A Chabadniker

 

A man with a hammer went on a rampage through a Teaneck, New Jersey medical center screaming “Are you Jewish?” on Sunday.

The man reportedly stormed through the Riverside Medical Group, including a pediatrician’s office, as well as a nearby dry cleaner, carrying a hammer in a threatening manner and asking people if they were Jewish, the Daily Voice reported.

The alleged assailant, Camwren T. Cole, 23, of Teaneck, also cut himself while smashing the building’s windows, and was covered in blood.

Police arrived quickly at the building and arrested Cole. He was taken to Bergen New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus, New Jersey for psychological evaluation.

Police at the scene determined that the suspect “showed indications indicative of mental illness,” Police Chief Glenn O’Reilly said in a statement.

O’Reilly said that Cole was charged with aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, criminal mischief and harassment.

He said that when Teaneck police arrived at the office complex, they found that patients and staff had “barricaded themselves within the doctor’s office.”

Gordon described the traumatic ordeal to the Jewish Link, stating that she was with her 10-year old daughter who was there for an appointment. When the attacker began his anti-Semitic rampage, they were already in the bathroom.

Gordon said they suddenly heard “smashing, banging and glass shattering” and someone screaming, “Call 911.”

Gordon opened the door only to be confronted by the hammer wielding assailant, whose arms were dripping with blood from the glass door he had just shattered.

He screamed at them: “Are you Jewish?”

Gordon acted fast and shut the bathroom door.

“It was all women and children and I heard him go around asking everyone, ‘Are you Jewish?’” she said.

Locking the bathroom door, Gordon called 911 and grabbed a spray can of bleach to use as a weapon. Her scared and crying daughter hid behind a garbage can.

Barricaded in the bathroom, they continued to hear people screaming.

He was also heard screaming “They tried to turn me trans!” according to witness Jill Gordon.

Gordon said she was one of the people who was asked by Cole if she was Jewish.

While officers were searching the medical center for Cole, a 911 call was placed that a man wielding a hammer was smashing the front window of Parisian Cleaners.

“Patrol Officers responded to this location and apprehended Mr. Cole without incident with the assistance of Bogota and Leonia Police Officers,” said Teaneck police.

Police were able to track down Cole by following a trail of blood.

“During the course of the investigation, Mr. Cole showed indications indicative of mental illness and was transported to a local hospital for treatment and evaluation.”

According to the police report, a receptionist at the doctor’s office sustained an injury to her nose after a piece of glass hit her in the face causing a laceration.

Cole is currently in police custody while he is being evaluated at Holy Name Medical Center. Once the evaluation is finished, he will be turned over to the Bergen County Sherrif’s Department pending an appearance in Superior Court.

Cole is not being charged with a hate crime, which has Gordon upset.

“What is the goal of having bias or hate crimes [laws] if this doesn’t qualify?” said Gordon.

Fresh proof the Russiagate ‘scandal’ was created by the Hillary Clinton campaign

 

A federal grand jury on Thursday handed up an indictment requested by special counsel John Durham — and it’s fresh proof that the entire Russiagate “scandal” was manufactured by Hillary Clinton’s campaign.

Durham, the federal prosecutor tasked with investigating the origins of the investigation, is targeting lawyer Michael Sussmann for lying about his client when he met with an agent to share dubious suspicions of a link between the Trump Organization and Kremlin-connected Alfa Bank.

The FBI later disproved the claim during the endless Russiagate investigation, as special counsel Robert Mueller’s team found itself unable to verify anything from the much-hyped allegations after two years of work.

Sussmann’s in trouble because he told the agent he had no client in the matter, then later in a 2017 deposition told Congress he did it on behalf of an unnamed client and cybersecurity expert. Sussmann wasn’t on that account — but his firm, Perkins Coie, reportedly billed his hours working on Alfa Bank to the Clinton campaign.

Again, the entire Russiagate scare was launched by the Clintonites, who not only paid Perkins Coie to hire the Beltway smear-specialists of Fusion GPS to draw up and promote the Steele allegations but also gossiped about the supposed Trump-Russia conspiracy, prompting allies in and out of government to pass their own hysterical tips in to the bureau. Fellow travelers in the Obama administration, such as CIA chief John Brennan, also helped fan the flames. Indeed, Team Obama basically turned the gossip (which is all Steele or anyone ever offered) into a solid-seeming case.

But it was all a setup.

Can you imagine the outrage if Republicans had weaponized the FBI and the intel community for political purposes — all on the basis of a lie? It would have launched endless New York Times and Washington Post coverage.

But political party shouldn’t matter — this was an outrageous, crooked dirty tricks campaign. And most of the people involved are getting away with it.

Gmar Tov